Air separating means



March 1954 R. B. DUGGAN ETAL 3,

AIR SEPARATING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1961 s T LI INV EN TORS fees 5. 00664 March 1964 R. B. DUGGAN ETAL AIR SEPARATING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1961 INVENTORS 1Pqaq r B. DusGA Y dog/Y 5 U/IL BY W 4.?M

United States Patent 3,123,454 AIR SEPARATING MEANS Robert B. Duggan and .lohn B. Uhl, Louisville, Ky., assignors to American Radiator 8; Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,412 10 Claims. (Cl. 55-200) The present invention relates to air separating means for hot water heating systems and more particularly to an improved air separator for eliminating air from the hot water in hot water heating systems.

One of the problems in hot water heating systems is the elimination of air from the system. The presence of air in such systems may cause air noises in the system and in some instances may cause the system to become air-bound and not function properly. It will be understood that the word system as used herein refers to the piping and heat distributing units through which hot water is circulated.

Heretofore, boilers have utilized complicated air bleeding devices to eliminate the air from the system. However, such air bleeding devices are expensive to manufacture and need constant maintenance in order to operate properly. Other air separators presently in use to eliminate air from hot water systems do not give completely satisfactory results and cannot be used for all types of boilers, for example, tankless heater boilers.

The present invention overcomes these defects and provides an improved air separator which virtually eliminates air from hot water heating systems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved air separator which has maximum efficiency and which can be used for any type of boiler, including tankless heater boilers.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved air separator which requires little or no maintenance.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved air separator which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a boiler nipple hub embodying the air separator of the present invention;

F-IG. 2 is a top elevational view of the nipple hub shown in FIG. 1;

iFIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the position of the air separator;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing a top view of the air separator of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing the cross-sectional contour of the air separator;

FIG. 6 is an elevational side view of a modified nipple hub embodying the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top elevational view of the nipple hub shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional View taken along line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 99 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-40 of FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 5 which show one form of the present invention, the nipple hub 1 of a hollow boiler section comprises an outer generally cylindrical housing 2 having side flanges 3 and 4. The side flange 3 has an opening 5 therein which is adapted to be closed by a cover (not shown) bolted to the flange 3 through bolt openings 6 in bosses 7.

The side flange 4 is provided with an inlet opening 8 to receive a nipple 9 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which is adapted to convey hot Water from other sections of the boiler to the nipple hub in the direction of the arrow, as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, the nipple 9 is a push nipple so that opening 8 need not be threaded. However, it is Within the scope of the present invention to utilize a threaded nipple in which event the opening 8 would be a threaded opening.

Extending upwardly from the upper portion of the housing 2 and substantially at right angles to the inlet opening 3 is an outlet chamber 10 having an upper wall 10a. The outlet chamber 10 has a supporting web 21 depending therefrom which divides the outlet chamber 10 into an air outlet portion 20 and a Water outlet portion 20a. The upper wall 19a is provided with a threaded opening 11 communicating with water outlet portion Ztla which is adapted to circulate the hot Water throughout the system. The upper wall 19a is also provided with a threaded opening 12 spaced from threaded opening 11 and communicating with air outlet portion 29 adapted to direct the separated air to an expansion tank (not shown) through the intcrmediation of a nipple 13 (FIG. 3), a tee 14 and a pipe 15. in the drawings the opening 12. is shown as being smaller than opening 11, however, it will be understood that the relative sizes of these openings may be altered as may be desired without departing from the scope of the invention. The other end of the tee 14 is adapted to receive a relief valve (not shown).

It will, of course, be understood that the location of the expansion tank and relief valve as shown in the drawings is merely for illustration and that the particular arrangement shown may be changed if desired.

The supporting web 2-1 is shown in the drawings as being integral with the upper wall Ma, and with the side flanges 3 and 4, however, it will be understood that, if desired, the web 21 may be a separate element which may be welded in or otherwise secured to the housing 2.

Extending from the end of the Web 21 is an air separator 22 which separates the air from hot water passing thereby. The air separator 22 underlies the water outlet opening 11 and is arcuate and generally conforms to the curve of inlet opening 3. The air separator 22 is provided with an edge 23 which is located below the top of the nipple 9. The air separator 22 is integral with the web 21 and extends across the huh I and is integral with side flanges 3 and 4- as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The cross-sectional area of the separator 22 is tapered from about the center outwardly and merges into side flanges 3 and 4, as shown in FIG. 5.

The hot water coming from the other boiler sections through the nipple 9 will make a degree turn and flow upwardly past air separator 22 which separates the air from the hot water and which directs the air towards the air outlet opening 12 leading to the expansion tank through nipple 13, tee 14 and nipple 15 and directs the hot water substantially free of air throughout the system through the opening 11. Since web 21 is cast with the housing toone side of the center of the nipple hub 1, and the edge 23 of the separator 22. is below the top of nipple 9, the water being circulated to the system is assured of being taken from a point below the top of the nipple 9. The air separator 22 acts as a battle to divert rising air bubbles in the boiler section of which nipple hub 1 is a enga es part and to divert air and rising air bubbles, which enter the said boiler section through the nipple 9, towards the air outlet opening 12. The boiler section may be provided with an inclined side wall, such as for example, the inclined side wall 2a shown in the lower left hand portion of FIGURE 3. This side wall 2a tends to divert rising air bubbles in said boiler section into the air outlet portion 20.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 6 to 10, which shows a modification of the present invention, the nipple hub 39 is similar to the nipple hub 1 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to and comprises an outer generally cylindrical housing 31 having side flanges 32 and 33. The side flange 32 has an opening 34- therein adapted to be closed by a cover (not shown) bolted through bolt holes 35 in bosses 36 and the side flange 33 has an inlet opening 37 which receives a nipple 37:: adapted to permit hot water to enter the nipple hub 30 from the other boiler section (not shown).

The outer housing 31 is provided with an upright outlet chamber 38 having an upper wall 38a. The outlet chamber 33 is divided into a water outlet portion :2; and an air outlet portion 42a by a supporting web 43 integral with the upper wall 313a and merging into side flanges 33 and 32. The air outlet portion 42a communicates with a threaded relief valve opening 39 adapted to receive a relief valve (not shown) and a threaded air outlet opening dil adapted to direct the air from the hot water to an expansion tank (not shown). The water outlet portion 42 communicates with a threaded water outlet opening 41 which directs hot water throughout the system.

An air separator 44, similar to the air separator shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, extends from the web 43 and underlies the water outlet opening 41 so that hot water coming from the other sections of the boiler through inlet opening 37 will pass the air separator 44 and separate the air from the hot water. The air separator 44 is arcuate and conforms to the curve of the inlet opening 37. The separator extends across the housing and merges with side flanges 32 and 33 (FIGS. 9 and and its edge 45 is located below the top of nipple 37a as shown in FIG. 8. The cross-sectional area of the air separator 4 is tapered outwardly from approximately the center and merges with side flanges 33 and 32, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

With this arrangement, water coming from the other sections of the boiler through nipple 37a moves upwardly at substantially right angles to the nipple 37a and passes the air separator 44 which separates the air from the hot water. The air is directed upwardly through the air outlet opening 40 to an expansion tank (not shown) and the hot water, which is virtually free of air, is directed upwardly to the water outlet opening 41 to be circulated throughout the system. The water being circulated is assured of being taken from a point below the top of nipple 37a since the web 43 is to one side of the nipple hub 30 and the edge 45 of the separator 44 is below the top of nipple 37a.

It will be seen that the air separator of the present invention eliminates air from hot water systems with maximum efiiciency and the present invention can be used with a variety of boilers, including tankless heater boilers. Since the air separator is cast with the nipple hub in one piece, it is inexpensive to manufacture and, since it does not have any moving parts, requires a minimum of maintenance.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a hot water boiler of the type having adjacently arranged hollow boiler sections, comprising a hollow boiler section having an upper wall, said upper wall having an outlet opening for hot water and an outlet opening for air, and air separating means extending from said upper wall for separating the air from the hot Water, said air separating means comprising an air separating baflie extending downwardly into said boiler section and terminating at a position underlying said hot water outlet opening and dividing a portion of the boiler section below said upper wall into an air relief passage and a water flow passage, said air relief passage communicating with said air outlet opening and said water flow passage communicating with said hot water outlet opening, said boiler section having an inwardly extending portion thereof underlying said hot water outlet and said air separating baiie and closely spaced therefrom in said water flow passage whereby the baffle tends to deflect rising hot water and air bubbles in said boiler section away from said overlying hot water outlet opening and past one side of said baffle towards the adjacent air outlet opem'ng to thereby effect air separation from the hot water leaving the hot water outlet opening.

2. In a hot water boiler, the combination comprising a hollow boiler section having a chamber formed at an upper portion thereof, said chamber having an upper wall with adjacently arranged air and hot water outlet openin s, an integral air separating baffle extending from said upper wall at a position intermediate said air and hot water outlet openings into said chamber, said baflie having an extended portion underlying said hot water outlet opening whereby the bafiie tends to partially divert hot water from flowing to said hot water outlet opening, said chamber also having an inwardly and upwardly inclined side wall portion underlying and closely adjacent said hot Water outlet opening whereby said inclined portion tends to deflect rising hot water and air bubbles in said boiler section away from said overlying hot water outlet opening and past one side of said batlle towards the adjacent air outlet opening to thereby eiiect air separation from the hot water leaving the hot water outlet opening.

3. In a hot water boiler, the combination comprising a hollow boiler section having a chamber formed at an upper portion thereof, said chamber having an upper wall with air and hot water outlet openings therein, an integral air separating bafile extending downwardly from said upper wall at a position intermediate said air and hot water outlet openings into said chamber, said baffle dividing said chamber into an air relief passage and a water flow passage each in communication with the air and hot Water outlet openings respectively, said bafiie having an extended portion underlying one side of said hot water outlet opening whereby the battle tends to partially divert hot water from flowing to said hot water passage, said chamber also having an upwardly and inwardly inclined side wall portion underlying an opposite side of said hot Water outlet opening and closely adjacent thereto whereby said inclined side wall portion deflects rising air bubbles in said boiler section away from said water flow passage and towards said air relief passage for exit through said air outlet opening.

4. An air separating means for a hot water boiler, comprising a hollow boiler section having a lateral flow opening through an upper side wall for connection to a flow opening of an adjacent section, said boiler section having an integral chamber at its upper end position above the level of said flow opening, said chamber having an upper wall with adjacently arranged air and hot water outlet openings and a generally vertical integral partition wall in said boi er chamber extending traversely of said section and normal to said flow opening to divide said chamber into an air relief passage underlying said air outlet opening and partially underlying said hot water outlet opening, a water flow passage underlying said hot water outlet opening, said partition wall diverting air bubbles to said air relief passage and said air outlet to effect separation thereof and means underlying and spaced apart from said partition wall and closely adjacent said hot water outlet opening to further divert air bubbles away from said hot water outlet.

5. An air separating means for a hot water boiler, comprising a hollow boiler section having a lateral flow opening through an upper side wall for connection to a flow opening of an adjacent section, said boiler section having an integral chamber at its upper end positioned above the level of said flow opening, said chamber having an upper wall with adjacent air and hot water outlet openings, a downwardly extending partition wall in said chamber extending traversely of said section and normal to said lateral flow opening to divide said chamber into an air relief passage and a water flow passage, said partition wall having an extension underlying said hot water outlet opening to divert air bubbles away from said water flow passage to said air relief passage, said boiler section having an inwardly extending portion thereof underlying said hot water outlet and said extension and closely spaced therefrom in said water flow passage whereby said portion tends to deflect rising hot water and air bubbles in said boiler section away from said overlying hot water outlet opening and past one side of said extension towards the adjacent air outlet opening to thereby effect air separation from the hot water leaving the hot water outlet opening.

6. In a hot water boiler of the type having adjacently arranged hollow boiler sections, the combination comprising, an upper wall and side walls defining an upper portion of a hollow boiler section, said upper wall having a hot water outlet opening and an air outlet opening, one of said side walls having a lateral opening for providing communication with an adjacent hollow boiler section, and air separating means underlying said hot water outlet opening for separating air from the hot water in the hollow boiler section, said air separating means including a web in said boiler section extending between said side walls and having an upper end terminating at the upper wall between the hot water outlet and the air outlet and a lower end underlying said hot water outlet opening and terminating beneath the uppermost portion of said lateral opening, said boiler section having an inwardly extending section thereof underlying said hot water outlet and said lower end and closely spaced therefrom in said water flow passage whereby said portion tends to deflect rising hot water and air bubbles in said boiler section away from said overlying hot water outlet opening and past one side of said lower end towards the adjacent air outlet opening to thereby eifect air separation from the hot water leaving the hot water outlet opening. I

7. In a hot water boiler as set forth in claim 6 wherein said web is formed integral with said boiler section.

8. In a hot water boiler, the combination comprising a hollow boiler section, said section having an upper wall with air and hot water outlet openings therein, an air separating bafie extending from said upper wall at a position intermediate said air and hot water outlet openings and having a portion partially underlying said hot water outlet opening, said baffle dividing a portion of said boiler section into an air relief passage and a water flow passage each in communication with the air and hot water outlet openings respectively, said boiler section having an inwardly and upwardly inclined side wall portion underlying and closely adjacent said hot water outlet opening and said Water flow passage such that rising air bubbles in said boiler section are deflected away from said hot water outlet opening and said water flow passage towards said air relief passage for exit through said air outlet opening.

9. In a hot water boiler, the combination comprising a hollow boiler section, said section having cast therein an upper Wall with air and hot water outlet openings therein, an integral air separating bafile extending downwardly from said upper wall at a position intermediate said air and hot water outlet openings, said bafile having an extending portion underlying said hot water outlet opening whereby the baflle tends to partially divert hot water from flowing directly to said hot water outlet opening and prevents air bubbles entering the upper portion of said boiler section from passing to said hot water outlet opening, said boiler section having an inwardly extending portion thereof underlying said hot water outlet and said extending portion and closely spaced therefrom whereby said extending portion tends to deflect rising hot water and air bubbles in said boiler section away from said overlying hot water outlet opening and past one side of said extending portion towards the adjacent air outlet opening to thereby effect air separation from the hot water leaving the hot water outlet opening.

10. In a hot water boiler as set forth in claim 9 wherein said boiler section has a lateral flow opening for connection to a flow opening of an adjacent boiler section, said baifie extending below the upper portion of said lateral flow opening to thereby prevent air in the upper portion of the lateral flow opening from passing to said hot water outlet opening when such air enters the boiler section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 403,704 Stuart May 21, 1889 465,019 Goodrich Dec. 15, 1891 578,192 Bates Mar. 2, 1897 1,952,475 Tidd Mar. 27, 1934 1,963,078 De Rochemont June 19, 1934 2,061,605 Yoder Nov. 24, 1936 2,213,857 Griffith Sept. 3, 1940 2,434,596 Spieth Jan. 13, 1948 2,500,621 Tidd Mar. 14, 1950 2,650,031 Hitch et al Aug. 25, 1953 2,713,973 Hencken et al July 26, 1955 2,808,994 Tidd Oct. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,459 Austria Apr. 10, 1940 

1. IN A HOT WATER BOILER OF THE TYPE HAVING ADJACENTLY ARRANGED HOLLOW BOILER SECTIONS, COMPRISING A HOLLOW BOILER SECTION HAVING AN UPPER WALL, SAID UPPER WALL HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING FOR HOT WATER AND AN OUTLET OPENING FOR AIR, AND AIR SEPARATING MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID UPPER WALL FOR SEPARATING THE AIR FROM THE HOT WATER, SAID AIR SEPARATING MEANS COMPRISING AN AIR SEPARATING BAFFLE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID BOILER SECTION AND TERMINATING AT A POSITION UNDERLYING SAID HOT WATER OUTLET OPENING AND DIVIDING A PORTION OF THE BOILER SECTION BELOW SAID UPPER WALL INTO AN AIR RELIEF PASSAGE AND A WATER FLOW PASSAGE, AND AIR PASSAGE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID AIR OUTLET OPENING AND SAID WATER FLOW PASSAGE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOT WATER OUTLET OPENING, SAID BOILER SECTION HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION THEREOF UNDERLYING SAID HOT WATER OUTLET AND SAID AIR SEPARATING BAFFLE AND CLOSELY SPACED THEREFROM IN SAID WATER FLOW PASSAGE 